Photocopying device



Aug. 25, 1964 Filed Feb. 20, 1963 J. GUGELOT ETAL PHOTOCOPYING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 n it [IE INVENTOP JOHANNES GUGELOT HANS SUKOPP mam Aug-25, 1964 J. GUGELOT ETAL 3,145,635

PHOTOCOPYING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVN7'0/P JOHANNES GUGEL OT HANS SUKOPP BY W AGENT United States Patent Office3,145,635 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 3,145,635 PHOTOCOPYIN G DEVICE JohannesGugelot and Hans Sukopp, Neu-Ulm, Germany,

assignors to Lumoprint Zindler KG., Hamburg,

Germany Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 260,016 Claims priority,application Germany Mar. 31, 1962 Claims. (Cl. 95-75) The inventionrelates to a photocopying device comprising a treatment bath which hasinlet openings for an at least partly exposed sheet of copy material andan outlet opening for this sheet above a squeezing and transport rollerpair, drive means for at least the squeezing and transport roller pairand advantageously an exposure device whose light source is providedwith current conductors and switching elements.

It is known to cover such devices when they are not in operation, e.g.by a flexible casing. The known coverings are in practice removed forthe day, when the apparatus is first put into operation, and replaced inthe evening, which is frequently forgotten.

In such devices there also exists the problem of keeping the oxidationof the treatment liquid low and above all of preventing contamination bythe entry of dust into the openings of the apparatus. This is onlyinsufficiently achieved by the flexible casings since the inlet andoutlet openings are sometimes open for long periods of time. Forreducing oxidation, it is known to provide a reserve container for thetreatment liquid which is connected by means of a connecting pipe to thetreatment bath and is equipped with a movable pressure element foreffecting a compression to transfer the treatment liquid into thetreatment bath. The pressure element is actuated by a movable leverextending to the exterior of the device. It has in addition previouslybeen proposed to use such a lever for tensioning a spring whose forcecompresses the reserve container so that an increasing compression inaccordance with the extent of the emptying of the reserve container ismade possible. One disadvantage of this device lies in that it must bespecially actuated, whereby either a release of the pressure elementafter the finish of an operation is necessary, which is frequentlyforgotten, or an automatic return after the expiry of the time requiredA further object of the present invention is to provide l a photocopyingapparatus which when not in operation can readily act as a-support forany'oftice utensil.

' A still further object of the present invention is to provide aphotocopying device which can be prepared for operation with a minimumof trouble and which when not w v in operation is particularly wellprotected.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide photocopyingapparatus inwhich, without actuation of additional handgrips, thedeveloperjliquid is moved in dependence on the operative or inoperativecondition of the apparatus between a bath container and a closed supplycontainer.

These objects are fulfilled by a cover movably. supported on the housingfor covering and exposing at least the inlet and outlet openings of thedeveloper device, this cover being connected with an actuating linkagefor performing a conditioning operation, required in the normal use ofthe device, in dependence upon the position of the cover. I

According to a preferred construction,. the actuating linkage isarranged to control a device for moving the pressure element to pressthe treatment liquid into the treatment vessel in response to theopening of the cover.

The invention includes a construction in which the actuating linkage isarranged to actuate switches for energizing drive means and, ifrequired, an exposure light source. The additional function of the coveras a switch element ensures that the cover is effectively closed whenthe apparatus is not in operation.

According to a further advantageous feature, the device for moving thepressure element comprises a spring which on opening of the coveroperates the pressure element by tension to compress the reservecontainer and resiliently secures the cover in its end position by meansof a movable linkage part. Thus, the spring fulfills two functions, i.e.the compression of the reserve container and the resilient locking ofthe lid by toggle action which makes another catch for the lidunnecessary.

The cover itself, because of its construction from a rigid material(advantageously from the same material as the housing of the apparatus)such as metal or plastic, effects a satisfactory covering of the upperside of the apparatus against the entry of dust, and is also light-proofso that oxidation residues of the treatment liquid, for example on thesqueezing and transport roller pair, are completely avoided.

According to one particular construction, a swinging arm connected withthe device for moving the pressure element is pivotally secured on thehousing of the apparatus; This arm comprises a pressure member acting onthe pressure element or plate for the reserve container. This plate canalso be connected to the pressure member so that the pressure plate israised on forced movement of the arm during closing of the cover andthus allows a load-free inflation of the reserve container by thetreatment liquid.

The device for moving the pressure element advantageously comprises abar secured at one end to a movable linkage part and at its other end toa lever arm of the pressure member pivotally mounted in the housing,this bar forming anchor means for one end of a spring which is securedat its other end to the housing and acts on the bar in a direction suchas to effect compression of the reserve container.

According to. a particularly preferred construction the lid is a flapcover pivotally secured on the housing, this lid being pivoted in thevicinity of the rear wall of the housing of the apparatus and engagingby means of a pivot lug in a slot in an angle lever which is constructedas a pivotal plate and upon which the linkage part constructed as aswinging lever bears under the action of the spring. In this case theremay be provided on the pivotal plate, between the'fulcrum of the anglelever and the point of engagement of the cover and the swinging lever,an arrangement giving rise to a suitable force for stressing the springupon closing of the lid. According to a particularly advantageousconstruction, the treatment bath is arranged underneatha cover plate inwhich the outlet opening is provided, while the inlet opening 'islocated in a step of the cover plate whichis set back with respect tothe front 'wall of the housing, this wall being provided with an accessopening for the exposure device. The cover thus extends over the wholeof the top of the housing to the front wall; j

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a photocopying device embodying theinvention taken in section along the line II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation taken in section along theline IIII ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation of the device with the cover closed andwith the drive chamber shown in section along the line III-III of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the deviceshown in FIGS. 1-3.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a housing 1 divided by anintermediate wall 2. This intermediate wall 2, together with a side wall3 of the device, serves to journal movable parts and to support other,stationary parts. Between the intermediate wall 2 and the side wall 3there are arranged an exposure device 4 and a container 5 for treatmentliquid provided with a squeezing and transport roller pair 6, 7,together with a collapsible reserve container 8 and associated elements;as seen in FIG. 3, a drive motor 9 and associated transmission elements,including a pair of belts 62, 63, lie to the left of the intermediatewall 2.

The exposure device 4- has a transparent exposure cylinder 11, supportedby belts 10, an exposure light source 13 covered at one side by a screen12 being disposed in the cylinder 10. The screen 12 is fixed at one endto the intermediate wall 2, for example on a mounting plate 73 securedto that wall, and at its other end to the side wall 3 of the housing.The mounting plate 73 also forms a connecting element for the exposurelight source 13. The belts are guided over rollers 14, 15, 16 supportedin the walls 2 and 3. One of the rollers, e.g. roller 14, is driven bymotor 9. In the region between the rollers 14, there is disposed thefront wall 30 of the housing having an access opening 17 for theexposure device. This device is shielded from the remainder of thehousing interior by a partition 31.

The vessel 5 containing the treatment bath is supported by brackets 68,69 which extend between the intermediate wall 2 and the side wall 3. Thetreatment vessel is provided with guide elements 2%), 21 above verticalbottom flanges 18, 19, the element 21) projecting into an opening 22 fordefining a pair of inlet apertures and the element 21 serving to guideinserted sheet of copy material descending along element 20. The sheetspassing between .the parts 13, 2t), 21 are guided by the shape of theseparts and of element 19 to the squeezing and transport roller pair 6, 7which are driven in the directions indicated by arrows. Above the rollerpair 6, 7 there is disposed an outlet aperture 23. The outlet opening 23and the inlet opening 22 are located in the housing top 24 which in itsfront region is depressed to form a step 25 accommodating the inletopening 22 below the top of the apparatus; this step, in order tofacilitate the operation of the device, rises inclinedly behind anextension 26 serving as a support table.

The reserve container 8, which can be constructed as a plastic bladder,is arranged in an upwardly open tray 27 below the treatment bath 5. Apressure plate 28 is guided between upwardly directed wall parts, thelower side of the plate 28 being supported on the reserve container 8;this plate is freely movable in a vertical direction while remainingsubstantially parallel to the bottom of the tray.

The reserve container 8 is connected, for example by a flexible hoseline 29, with the lowermost point of the treatment bath 5. The hoseline, as here shown, extends upwardly from the bladder 8 through anopening in the pressure plate 28.

The rear wall 32 0f the device can be provided, in the 'region of thescreen between the walls 2 and 3, with an angle-shaped projection 37 onwhich a lug 38 is mounted. On the arms 36 there is fixed a canopy 39,eig. of

sheet metal, which extends from the pivotal end of the cover toward thefront so as to envelop at least the step 25. A depression 40 is shownprovided in the front section 71 of the cover to facilitate its removalinto open position. The'canopy 39 has a rear section 41 which extendsdownwardly in the plane of the rear wall of the housing 32, preferablyto the top edge of the closure plate 33. Downwardly closed channelmembers 70 are provided in the housing top 24 near the walls 2, 3 toaccommodate the arms 36 so that the cover 34 can assume the closedposition shown in FIG. 1. The front section 71 of the cover is shownextended so that it overlies the access opening 17 for the exposuredevice, though this cover section could also terminate just below thedimple 40.

The lug 33 on the cover 34 engages in a slot '42 in an angle lever 43constructed as a swinging plate and pivotable about a pivot pin 44 onthe intermediate wall 2. This angle lever 43 carries on one side anabutment lug 45 which projects through an arcuate slot 46 in theintermediate wall 2. The slot is concentric with the pivot pin 44.

It can be seen that the pivot pin 44 is offset to one side with respectto an imaginary line joining the abu*- ment lug 45 and the end of theslot 42. In this way there is provided a crank effect as describedhereinafter. It can also be seen that the slot 42 is disposed so that agood force-transmission ratio between the lug 38 and the edge of theslot is provided on pivoting of the cover. The spacing between the pivotpin 44 and the slot 42 is greater than that between the pivot pin andthe abutment lug 45.

A double-armed lever 52 supported on the intermediate wall 2 isswingable about a pivot pin 4'7 arranged on the intermediate wall 2.This lever is part of a linkage which includes a bar 48 coupled with aspring 49. The latter is connected in the illustrated construction as atension spring secured at one end to an anchor member 50 on the bar 48and at its other end to an anchor lug 51 arranged on the intermediatewall 2. The lever 52, shown formed with an offset bottom end, ispivotally connected by a lug 53 to the bar 50. The upper end of thelever 52, which as viewed in FIG. 3 is arranged at the left of theintermediate wall 2, is .urged by the tension spring 49 against theabutment lug 45. g

It can thus be seen that the actuating assembly 43, 48, 52 is biased bymeans of the spring 49 has a self-moving member so that this assemblyupon the tensioning of the spring and its subsequent release carries outan individual movement independently of the cover by reason of theabsence of a positive two-way connection. Thus, lug 45 and lever 52 bearupon each other in the manner of a thrust member and a follower,respectively.

The bar 48, at its end opposite pivot lug 53, is swingable in the sameplane as lever 52 on a pivot arm 54 which .has a horizontal section 72projecting through the interarm 54 (i.e. to the right thereof as viewedin FIG. 3) and above the pressure plate 28. The latter can be sus-f Vpended from the section 57 as shown at 58 in FIG. 1.

When the cover 34 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the link 52of the actuating assembly 43, 48, 52 is held in position upwardlyinclined to the right so that the bar 48 isdisplaced to the left totension the spring 49. The pivot arm 54 isthus rotated clockwise so thatthe lever-like pressure member 56 extends for example horizontally abovethe pressure plate 28. The reserve container E5 is inflated and containsthe treatment liquid.

For proper coupling of the cover 34 with the actuating assembly, it isimportant that the spring 48 is tensioned on closing of the cover. Inthis way, a strong spring can be comparatively easily tensioned, sincethe cover forms a long lever arm and the tensioning is effected ondepress ing the front end of the cover. For this cover movement a smallforce can thus be used, the direction of move ment being such that theassembly is positively displaced by it.

In this connection it is important that the slot 42 on closing of thecover extends substantially horizontally so thatin particular when thelug on closure of the cover lies substantially vertically beneath theshaft 35 a deflection of the lug 38 by the spring 49 is prevented. Inthis case, the edge of the slot 42 lies substantially perpendicularly tothe biasing force exerted upon the lug, thereby resisting itsdisplacement.

When the cover 34 is opened into the position shown in FIG. 2, the lug38 moves the angle lever 43 clockwise into the position shown in thatfigure. The spring 4'9 is slackened by the shifting of the bar 48 andthe pressure bar 56 is consequently pivoted so as to move the pressureplate 28 downwards. Simultaneously, the upper part of the lever 52 movesto the left until it abuts the lug 45, such movement taking place inaccordance with the extent of the emptying of the reserve container 8through the hose line 29 into the treatment bath 5.

The closing of the cover 34 reverses the lever 52, tensioning the spring49 and raising the bar 56 back into the position shown in FIG. 1.

It can be seen that, in particular in the position of the cover 34 shownin FIG. 2, the force of the spring 49 opposes closing of the cover. Acorresponding locking force is also present in the closed position byvirtue of the geometric location of the lugs 38, 45 with respect to thepivot pin 44. From FIG. 1 it can be seen that the arrangement is chosenso that between the pivot pin 44 and the abutment lug 45 there is formeda crank arm including with the free, i.e. upper, arm of the lever 52 anangle which is normally acute and which is zero degrees in anintermediate position of the cover. In this way an advantageous forcetransmission for tensioning the spring 49 is obtained, the weight of thecover in a stable position of closure being sufficient to maintain thisposition in which clockwise rotation of lever 43 under spring pressureis blocked by the fact that the horizontal contact edge of slot 42stands perpendicularly to the radius of swing of lug 38 so that thelatter is in self-locking camming engagement with that edge.

FIG. 4 represents a circuit diagram. The drive motor 9 is connected tosupply terminals 59 by conductors 60, 61. As shown in FIG. 3 thespindles '74, 75 of the squeezing and transport rollers 7 and the roller14 extend through support means in the intermediate wall 2 and carrydrive wheels engaged by the transmission belts 62, 63. In parallel withthe drive motor 9 there is connected the exposure light source 13, whichcan be regulated for example by means of a resistor 64. A switch 67 witha movable contact element 65 is inserted in the conductor 61 and has anactuating lever 66 which, for example, lies in the path of the anglelever 43 as seen in FIG. 2 so that the circuit of the device isautomatically switched on and off in dependence on the cover movement.

We claim:

1. A device for the production of copies, comprising a housing; atreatment vessel in said housing provided with guide means for directingsheets of copy material through a treatment bath therein; inlet means insaid housing, said guide means extending from said inlet means into saidvessel; outlet means in said housing; a

collapsible storage container for treatment liquid disposed below thelevel of said treatment bath in said housing; conduit means extendingfrom a location at the bottom of said vessel to said container; apressure element movably supported in said housing for effectingtransfer of treatment liquid between said vessel and said container; acover movably supported on said housing and extending in a position ofclosure over said inlet means and said outlet means; and link meansoperatively coupling said cover with said pressure element fordelivering liquid from said container to said vessel in response toopening of said cover.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is a bladder offlexible material, further comprising a tray in said housing having saidbladder horizontally disposed theron, said pressure element overlyingsaid bladder and being guided by said tray for vertical movement.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said pressure elementcomprises a lever with a horizontal fulcrum and a horizontal platesuspended from an extremity of said lever.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has a top wallformed at a rearward location with said outlet means and at a forwardlocation with a step accommodating said inlet means, said cover beinghinged to said housing at the rear and overlying said top substantiallyentirely in said position of closure.

5. A device for the production of copies, comprising a housing; atreatment vessel in said housing provided with guide means for directingsheets of copy material through a treatment bath therein; inlet means insaid housing, said guide means extending from said inlet into saidvessel; outlet means in said housing; a squeezing and transport meansfor said sheets rotatably supported within said housing ahead of saidoutlet means beyond said guide means; drive means for operating saidsqueezing and transport means; switch means on said housing foractuating said drive means; a collapsible storage container fortreatment liquid disposed below the level of said treatment bath in saidhousing; conduit means extending from a location at the bottom of saidvessel to said container; a pressure element movably supported in saidhousing for effecting transfer of treatment liquid between said vesseland said container; a cover movably supported on said housing andextending in a position of closure over said inlet and said outletmeans; and link means operatively coupling said cover with said pressureelement and said switch means for actuating said drive means anddelivering liquid from said container to said vessel in response toopening of said cover.

6. A deivce as defined in claim 5 wherein said link means comprises athrust member coupled with said cover and a spring-loaded followermember displaceable by said thrust member against its spring force uponthe closure of said cover.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said link means furthercomprises a self-locking camming connection between said cover and saidthrust member, said cover being pivotally mounted on said housing andhaving an extension which forms part of said camming connection and ispositioned and arranged to block the opening of said cover by saidspring force in said position of closure.

8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said switch means ispositioned for operation by said thrust member.

9. A device for the production of copies, comprising a housing with twoinlet apertures and an outlet aperture; a treatment vessel in saidhousing provided with guide means for directing sheets of copy materialthrough a treatment bath therein, said guide means extending from saidinlet apertures; an exposure device in said housing; a pair of squeezingand transport rollers for said sheets rotatably supported within saidhousing ahead of said outlet aperture beyond said guide means; drivemeans for concurrently operating said squeezing and transport rollersand said exposure device; switch means on said treatment liquid; conduitmeans extending from a location at the bottom of said vessel to saidcontainer; a pres- 7 sure element movably supported in said housing foreffecting transfer of treatment liquid between said vessel and saidcontainer; a cover movably supported on said housing and extending in aposition of closure over said inlet and outlet apertures; and link meansoperatively coupling said cover with saidv pressure element and saidswitch means for actuating said drive means and delivering 8 liquid fromsaid container to said vessel in response to opening of said cover.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing is provided witha front wall having an access opening for said exposure device, saidcover obstructing said access opening in said position of closure.

No references cited.

9. A DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COPIES, COMPRISING A HOUSING WITH TWOINLET APERTURES AND AN OUTLET APERTURE; A TREATMENT VESSEL IN SAIDHOUSING PROVIDED WITH GUIDE MEANS FOR DIRECTING SHEETS OF COPY MATERIALTHROUGH A TREATMETN BATH THEREIN, SAID GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAIDINLET APERTURES; AN EXPOSURE DEVICE IN SAID HOUSING; A PAIR OF SQUEEZINGAND TRANSPORT ROLLERS FOR SAID SHEETS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAIDHOUSING AHEAD OF SAID OUTLET APERTURE BEYOND SAID GUIDE MEANS; DRIVEMEANS FOR CONCURRENTLY OPERATING SAID SQUEEZING AND TRANSPORT ROLLERSAND SAID EXPOSURE DEVICE; SWITCH MEANS ON SAID HOUSING FOR ACTUATINGSAID DRIVE MEANS; A COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE CONTAINER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALDISPOSED BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID TREATMENT BATH IN SAID HOUSING FOR THESTORAGE OF TREATMENT LIQUID; CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING FROM A LOCATION ATTHE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL TO SAID CONTAINER; A PRES-